Letter: Was it really an issue of race?

Published: Friday, July 26, 2013 5:30 a.m. CDT

A lot has been said and yet to be said about the verdict in the Zimmerman/Martin trial.

The facts are a jury of six was chosen and accepted by both the prosecution and the defense. That is our “system,” and there were only six because Florida law requires 12 jurors only for capital crimes.

Evidence is gathered. Witnesses are called. The jury deliberates, and a verdict is reached. That is the system.

In any trial, one party or the other is not going to like the outcome. Those who did not like the acquittal verdict in this trial claim the system is flawed and wish to change the “system.” That is, to change it until they get the verdict they seek. That is not how the system works.

Why have a trial at all if certain groups dislike the outcome and wish to repeat that trial until it comes out the way they desire? Why have those in high government offices weigh in or make comments during and after the verdict?

For example – the president states if he had a son, he would look like Trayvon. Was that a comment based on his personal decision that Zimmerman was already guilty and meant to sway potential jurors?

Then there are the comments from Eric Holder, who consistently forgets that he is the attorney for all Americans and not just a select few.

Tavis Smiley, purportedly a journalist and talk show host who is not supposed to editorialize, states that the system is flawed and needs to be changed. Does he mean changed so verdicts come out the way he wishes them to?

The killings every day and night in Chicago are despicable. They are not caused by race issues – some statistics show that about 92 percent of black people killed are killed by other black people.

O.J. Simpson was acquitted when many felt he was guilty of killing his white wife and her white companion. I cannot recall the white president or the white attorney general making comments about the verdict.

A majority of Americans feel that the “system” works, possibly not as efficiently as it could, but it does – indeed – work and is proven by these many years and millions of trials.

So, was this trial really an issue of race? Many would like us to think so, and so the embers of race keep burning, never to go away any time soon ... or at all.